After facing the Titans, Kaepernick will accompany the 49ers to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars (Blaine Gabbert, No. 10 overall), and then comes a Nov. 10 home game against the Carolina Panthers (Cam Newton, No. 1).

Titans coach Mike Munchak fondly recalled evaluating Kaepernick before the draft and isn't surprised at his emergence as the 49ers starter since Nov. 19.

"We got to know him a little bit because we got to spend time with him when making a decision on a quarterback during the draft," Munchak said on a Wednesday conference call with Bay Area media. "We knew he'd be a special player because he has such a passion for the game. He's so big and so athletic, so he's been fun to watch. I've enjoyed watching him play."

Kaepernick is 11-5 as a starter, including last season's run to the Super Bowl and the 49ers' current three-game win streak. He was listed on the 49ers' injury report last week with a foot issue, one he claimed Wednesday was a "hangnail," the validity to which seemed to wane as he said it was on his pinky toe, on both feet.

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Locker, meanwhile, has gone 7-8 as a starter and is expected to miss a third straight game because of a hip injury, though he's been cleared to resume practicing. Ryan Fitzpatrick has started in place of Locker the past two defeats for the Titans (3-3).

Locker was one of five quarterbacks drafted ahead of Kaepernick, who went 36th overall (fourth in the second round) to the 49ers. Others included Christian Ponder (No. 12, Minnesota Vikings) and Andy Dalton (No. 35, Cincinnati Bengals).

Kaepernick has never started against any of those five teams who chose other quarterbacks, until this Sunday's game against the Titans.

"I thought I was somebody they were interested in, whether it was then (at No. 8 overall) or later, I didn't know. But it's in the past now."

Kaepernick thought his meetings with the Titans "went well" but claimed he doesn't remember much.

Munchak vividly recalls the 2011 draft process.

"Just sitting and watching tape with him, we spent time that way and I thought he really had a great feel," Munchak said. "I know everyone was concerned because they had the spread offense and weren't conventional under center like he's doing now, and everyone's projecting how he will do. Obviously he's done very well.

"He stood out, his size, my gosh, this guy's a man, a good-looking kid who was smart and had a passion for the game. ... I wasn't surprised all of a sudden he was starting last year and making plays, because of how competitive he was. It was just hard to project when that would happen."

On the flip side, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh learned Locker's capabilities first hand in the college ranks, especially in terms of running the football. Locker ran for 97 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman in Washington's 2007 win over Harbaugh's Stanford team.

"I've seen it up close and been defeated by it," Harbaugh said. "He's evolved, grown and always has been an extremely tough competitor."